Webber sets date for testing return

The Australian had always intended to be fit in time for the 2009 Red Bull's first tests, and he has now confirmed the date for his comeback. The team launch their new car on 9 February.

"I'm looking forward to driving the car in three weeks," Webber told BBC Radio Five Live.

"I'm going to have a crack at driving the car on 11 February, and then we'll see how that goes.

"If it goes really well, I'll be back in on 13 February. Then I've got three more tests - Jerez, Valencia and then our last test in Barcelona, with all the teams together - before we go off to Australia."

Webber said he was pleased with how his recovery had progressed and is confident it won't have any effect on his season.

"I'm going alright now. We're coming out of the back part of the worst of it, and hopefully I won't be on the crutches too much longer," he said. "Can start to test the muscle and the soft tissue in the back of the leg a little bit more when I get more confidence to walk on the leg.

"It won't affect how I drive my car. It affects my conditioning - I need a little bit more preparation, but by the time I get to Melbourne I should be in really good nick again.

"But at the moment I'm a bit under-cooked because I've been not that mobile. When I get going again, I'll be okay."